Battle of Reading (871)

The Battle of Reading was fought on 4 January 871 during the Viking invasions of England. A West Saxon attack on the Viking army at Reading, Berkshire was repelled, but, just four days later, the West Saxons defeated the Vikings at the Battle of Ashdown.

Background
In 871, the Viking ruler of Jorvik Halfdan Whiteshirt and the warlord Bagsecg led half of the powerful Great Heathen Army in an invasion of Wessex, bypassing Mercia entirely and raging deep into Wessex. Halfdan and Bagsecg reached the town of Reading, which they fortified as their base of operations; they were defended by the Thames and Kennet rivers on two sides, and by a rampart on the western side. Following the Battle of Englefield, the Danes were driven back to Reading, where King Aethelred of Wessex and his brother Alfred sought to finish them off.

Battle
The entire Anglo-Saxon army marched on Reading, attacking a gateway through Reading's ramparts. Fierce and bloody fighting followed, but the West Saxon attack was ultimately repulsed, and Ealdorman Aethelwulf of Berkshire was killed. The Anglo-Saxons were forced to retreat, allowing the Danes to continue their advance into Wessex. Just four days later, they were defeated at the Battle of Ashdown, forcing them to withdraw from Wessex for over a decade.